MATT MINGLEWOOD …Guita… Read Full Bio ↴Rocker from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.
MATT MINGLEWOOD …Guitarist, pianist, singer, songwriter creates an inspired blend of country, blues, folk, roots and rock. Both on record and on stage Matt keeps the music thriving, interesting and vivacious. After a dozen recordings and thirty years of touring from Cape Breton to Vancouver, Europe and across the United States he has earned the respect and loyalty of thousands of devoted fans.
Matt grew up in North Sydney, Nova Scotia in a large and loving extended family of twelve. At an early age he remembers sitting on grandfather Batherson’s knee listening to him, completely enthralled by his fiddle playing as he bounced him up and down. At the tender age of four he sang in front of his first audience, singing a couple of Gaelic songs and the writing was on the wall. At the age of six he started fiddle lessons, moved on to the piano at eight and by his teens was in love with the guitar.
He joined his first band, the Rockin’ Saints’ in his late teens playing organ and rhythm guitar. His early influences were eclectic, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Hank Williams, Muddy Waters, BB King but also local fiddle players such as Winston Scotty Fitzgerald and Buddy MacMaster.
By his early twenties Matt went on to join a band entitled Sam Moon, Matt Minglewood & the Universal Power. This band soon evolved into the Moon Minglewood Band. They toured the country extensively and became known as one of the hardest working bands in the country. By the mid 70’s they morphed into the Minglewood Band & recorded their first album, affectionately known as ‘The Red Album’ in 76…..a recording contract with RCA Records soon followed.
His music and song writing has the natural universality one only hears from a born storyteller. The songs can be somewhat autobiographical as in 'Me and the Boys', a song about carefree days of his youth or social issues he puts forth in 'Long Way From Texas'. Many of Matt's tunes grapple with the universal feelings of passion, frustrations, hope, loneliness, love, disappointment and regret as well as his deep love of the Maritimes. They are always reflected his life around him and what he is feeling at the time. “Me & The Boys” was recorded by southern-rock legend Charlie Daniels on his CD of the same name.
Many major artists (such as Jeff Healy, Jimmie Rankin, Duck Dunn, (Bassist for Eric Clapton, Neil Young and the Blues Brothers), Colin James, Downchild Blues Band, Kenny Neal, and Grammy award winning Blues harp player Charlie Musselwhite) just to name a few have joined Matt on stage and CD. You never know who may show up to “ sit in “ on any given night!!
A dozen recordings later and now on his own label, Norton Records, Matt has just released his first acoustic Cd entitled ‘The Story’ and has no thoughts of slowing down. Winner of this years ' East Coast Music Award Blues Recording of the Year and the 2005 'Maple Blues Award' for Entertainer of the Year Matt still continues to tour extensively either as an acoustic solo artist or with his full band.
Through the years, Minglewood has been honored with many accolades and awards including:
2006 ECMA Award for 'Blues Recording of the Year' for 'The Story'
2005 Maple Blues Awards 'Entertainer of the Year'
2004 ECMA award for 'Blues Recording of the Year' for 'Live at Last'
'Lifetime Achievement Award' from the East Coast Music Association
Three gold records
Two Juno nominations
Two Canadian Country Music nominations
ECMA 'Video of the Year' Award for 'Me & The Boys'
Canadian Country Music Songwriter of the Year award for 'Me and The Boys'
The "Great Canadian Blues Award" from CBC 's National radio show, Saturday Night Blues
Honored with an honorary Doctorate Degree from UCCB
Bestowed with the Queens Jubilee Medal for his contribution to Canadian music
by your side
Matt Minglewood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I know there were times that you carried a lot of the load
We had to fight sometimes to stay alive
And there were those amongst us like to see us take a dive
But you held your head up high
You wouldn't lie!
You had the strength to carry me when I was down
You gave me the guts little girl to get off the ground
And I might have even damaged your heart sometimes
But this love I have is true
I give it to you
[Chorus]
I hope the sun don't blind you
I hope the world don't grind on you
I hope that nothing unwinds you
I hope that trouble never finds you
I hope that no one undermines you
Treat you mean or be unkind to you
You know I'll always be behind you
I hope trouble never finds you without me
There was a time when I thought I really might loose you
And it chilled my heart and soul baby through and through
But you'll always know that I am your man
We'll walk this world darling hand in hand
This love I have is true I give it to you
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Matt Minglewood's song "By Your Side" speak to the unbreakable bond and unconditional love between two individuals who have experienced the highs and lows of life together. The singer acknowledges that the road they have traveled has not been easy, and there have been moments where one or the other had to carry more weight. Despite the challenges they have faced, the couple has stayed strong and fought to keep their love alive. There have been naysayers along the way who have tried to bring them down, but the singer admires his partner's resilience and ability to hold her head up high.
The chorus of the song is a hopeful wish for his partner's well-being. He hopes that the sun will never blind her or the world grind her down. He hopes that nothing ever unwinds or finds her in trouble. He promises to always be there for her, to never treat her mean or be unkind, and to protect her from anyone who undermines her. The unbreakable bond they share is affirmed in the final lines of the song; the singer declares that he knows he is her man, and they will walk through life together, hand in hand.
Line by Line Meaning
You and I have traveled a mile or two down the road
We have gone through this journey together for a while now.
And I know there were times that you carried a lot of the load
You have done your part by carrying the heavy load at times.
We had to fight sometimes to stay alive
We had to go through tough times to survive.
And there were those amongst us like to see us take a dive
There were people who wished for our failure.
But you held your head up high
You never lost hope and kept your chin up.
You wouldn't lie!
You always stayed true to yourself and to me.
You had the strength to carry me when I was down
You helped me when I was low and weak.
You gave me the guts little girl to get off the ground
You inspired me to get back up and be strong.
And the road might have taken us apart sometimes
We may have been separated by distance at times.
And I might have even damaged your heart sometimes
I may have hurt you unintentionally at times.
But this love I have is true
My love for you is sincere and enduring.
I give it to you
I offer it to you wholeheartedly.
I hope the sun don't blind you
I hope you are not blinded by harsh circumstances.
I hope the world don't grind on you
I hope the world does not wear you down.
I hope that nothing unwinds you
I hope nothing shakes or breaks your resolve.
I hope that trouble never finds you
I hope you never face any troubles.
I hope that no one undermines you
I hope no one brings harm to you.
Treat you mean or be unkind to you
I would never mistreat or hurt you.
You know I'll always be behind you
I will always support you, no matter what.
I hope trouble never finds you without me
I hope I am there beside you to face any troubles.
There was a time when I thought I really might loose you
I had experienced a time when losing you seemed like a real possibility.
And it chilled my heart and soul baby through and through
It was a painful and difficult experience that affected me deeply.
But you'll always know that I am your man
You can always count on me, I am your partner in this journey.
We'll walk this world darling hand in hand
We will face the world together, side by side.
This love I have is true I give it to you
My love for you is genuine and I give it to you wholeheartedly.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RENEE ANDREA NEUFVILLE, JEAN EVALYN NORRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind